Compare towns
Union vs Upton vs Sutton vs Stafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Union has the oldest population (median age 49.9).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Stafford has the most affordable homes ($264k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Union | Upton | Sutton | Stafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 944Lowest |
8,189 |
9,452 |
11,511Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.7±4.8 20% above U.S. |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Union and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Union and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,958±$14kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25k 82% above U.S. |
$93,235±$16k 15% above U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$263,800±$22kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,190±$401Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85 23% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,793Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$5,131 65% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #96 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Union School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Sutton | Stafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Sutton High School | Stafford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
12.6Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.